Expert warns of type-2 diabetes increase

06/01/2009

The number of people with type-2 diabetes is rising and this could pose significant health risks, an expert has warned.

According to Phil Holdich, senior lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, over two million people in the UK have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and an estimated 500,000 people are yet to be diagnosed.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

'Diabetes is a potentially dangerous disease because people are still relatively unaware of the harm it can do,' he revealed.

'Being overweight is a strong risk factor in developing the disease and once you have it, you have it for life.'

Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight and following a balanced diet can decrease a person's risk of type-2 diabetes by as much as 80 per cent.

Other risk factors include family history, a large waistline, high blood pressure and severe mental health problems.

In addition, African-Caribbean and south Asian people are at least five times more likely to have diabetes than UK Caucasians.

NetDoctor, part of the Hearst UK wellbeing network
Netdoctor participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.